Forging machine and method



June 19, 1928. 1,674,310

c. P. TOPPING Flled Jan. 26, 1926 2 Sheefis-Sheeq l June 19, 1928.1,674,310

C. P. TOPPING FORGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 26, 1926 '2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

CHARLES I. TOIPPING,

OF NORTH Cl'.ONAWANIDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR .10 BUFFALO BOLT COMPANY, orNORTH TONAWANDA, NEW roan, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FOBGING MACHINE AND METHOD.

Application filed January 26, 1926. Serial No. 83,978.

simultaneously performed on a number of.

slugs corresponding to the number of the steps. 'The steps involveapplication of high pressures, and at least one shaping operation takingeffect simultaneously on both faces of the blank, combined w'th shapingof the periphery by spreading of the metal against a peripheral shapingsurface. The latter is particularly important for perfectly formingsound corners and edges on cold forged nuts. My invention contemplatesthe use of a slug which may be markedly misshapen, provided it containsthe proper volume of metal but which, in any event, is of less d'ameterthan the nut to be produced, and a novel feature of the nut is theemployment of a peripheral female die, open at both ends, midway ofwhich the blank is lodged ,by the first expanding operation and in whichit is carried until the final step, where it is ejected as a nut blank.In this pcriphery-shaping carrier die, the successive steps are formedby pairs of cooperating dies, to which the carrier is successivelyindexed. One important feature of these dies is that both members areprojected into the carrier cavity from o posite ends thereof and one ofthem is pre erably a stationary projection over which the slug carryingfemale die is fitted, as part of the indexing operation, forming withthe carrier a complete female die with a closed end, into the other endof which the pressure applying male die is reciprocated to apply therequired great pressure. The machine, therefore, comprises essent'ally amassive fixed member carrying equally spaced die faces elevated abovethe surface of the anvil memher on projections adapted to accurately fitthe peripheryforming elements of the second It will be found that the orcarrier member, means for indexing the carrier member over theseveralprojections of the stationary or anvil member, together with athird operating member which applies the pressure to the blank in thecarrier between intervals of the indexing.

The above and other features of my invention will be more evident fromthe following description in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which Figs. '1, 2, 3 and 4 are sections showing the three diemembers, the blanks'therein and the operations performed on the blanks;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic axial section through the indexingcarrier and c0- operating forming members;

Fig. 6 is a face view of the upper member shown in Fig. 1, showing thearrangement of the several male die members;

Fig. 7 is a similar face View of the carrier member, showing theperipheral female die members thereon; and

Fig. 8 is a detail axial section showing certain of the parts of Fig. 1while the carrier is indexing.

In Fig. 1, the anvil member, 1, has an upward, preferably integral,projection to fit the interior peripheral die surface, 3, of carrier 4,said surface in this case being hexagonal, the open ends being formedwith outwardly beveled portions, 5 and 6, respectively. In Figs. 1 to 4the female carrier die is the same, and the anvil die is the same andthe projections on the latter are the same so far as concerns fittingthe interior of the carrier die, but the blank shaping ends of theseprojections, as also the cooperating shaping d es entering through theother end of the carried die, are specifically different as required forthe successive steps of the operation.

In Fig. 1 the projection, 2, extends upward, so that the blank w issupported approximately midway of the peripheral shaping die, 8. Itsupper face is plane, with a-slight inward bevel at the edges to permitflow of the metal for formation of square corners on the blank and thecooperating movable die member, 9, has a precisely similar plane face,beveled edges and hexagonal periphery.

As'shown in Fig. 1, the blank or: contains metal sufficient for theCompletednut, but it does not fit the cavity, the misshaping beingrelatively great where the slug is cut fiatwise from a rectangular baror as close as may be desired if cut from a hexagonal bar at rightangles to the axis thereof.

However the slug is produced, the first operation is application ofgreat pressure by descent of the male die, 9, spreading the metal of theslug, driving it into firm engagement with the hexagonal walls, 3, andpartly filling the corners of the hexagon.

Upon completion of the first step and withdrawal of the bar, 9, thecarrier, 4, is indexed to the position shown in Fig. 2, where thecooperating upper and lower d1e faces have an annular surfacecorresponding to the face of the nut blank to be produced and 0' positeconvex hemispherical or eggshape projections, 12, 12", on 2 and 9,respective with a diameter approximately equal to the hole to be piercedthrough the nut. It'will be noted that the total height of theprojection, including the hex-fitting base, 2, and the ovoid projection,12, is approximately the same as the total height of projection 2, thisbeing necessary because the blank 00 is now, so to speak, frozen inintermediate engagement with the carrier die 3, to such an extent thatproper indexing and solid engagement of the carrier die, 4, with thesupport surface of anvil, 1, would be prevented by the blank. Operationof this mechanism simultaneously spreads the material and wipes theblank axially downward in the female carrier die, to the position andshape shown in Fig. 3. In this operation, the metal has had anopportunity to flow vertically, thereby thickening the blank and at thesame time affording the interior flow, draw and wiping of the peripherof the metal to make perfect surfaces an corners. In Fig. 3 the heightand peripheral shape of projection 22 is the same as that of 2 in thepreceding figure, with the result that the blank in the indexed positionrests firmly on the surface of 22, while the lower surface of thecarrier 4 is in firm engagement with the anvil member, 1. In thisposition, the punch, 9 punches out the slug, w, the effort requiredbeing less, and the smoothness of the punched hole much greater byreason of the ovoid cavities into which the compressed metal can flow.The slug w, is ejected through a central opening 22 through the top ofprojection, 22 extending down through carrier, 1.

The carrier is then indexed to the position shown in Fig. 4, where thecompleted nut blank, m, is ejected through outlet, 22 in anvil member 1,by reciprocation of punch member, 9.

In the foregoing I have described the relations and movements of partsas upper, lower, etc., but this is merely for convenience in identifyingparts as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and it will be understood that thehorizontal to correspond. The latter arrangement is indicated in Figs.5, 6, 7 and 8, which also indicate more or less diagrammatically certainof the details of the ap paratus and driving mechanism. As concernsgeneral orgamzation of parts, Fig. 5 shows the stationary uprightsupport, 24, in which is journaled shaft 25 carrying a turret, 26, inwhich the periphery forming carrier dies, 4, are removable cylindricalmembers, held in desired position of angular adjustment by lockingblocks, 27, adjusted and held by bolts, 2

The forward face of member 24 carries the projections, 2, which fit intothe carrier dies, and these projections may be on separate removablebases, 24, held fixed in recesses of 24 in any desired way, the lockingmeans similar to that employed for carriers 4 being suitable for thispurpose also. The reciprocating male members, '9, 9, etc., are mountedupon a horizontal reciprocating slide, 34, in any desired way, the meansshown in connection with 9 being a rectangular plate, 35, secured byfour bolts, 36, and

formed with an upstanding boss, 37, coned interiorly to fit a splitconical bushing, 38, the interior of which is powerfully clamped againstthe sides of die member, 9, by annular collar, 39, screwing onto theoutside of 37 and provided with an inner conical Slllface, 40, adaptedto fit .acorresponding surface on the bushing, 38.

Any suitable means may be employed for longitudinally reciprocating theshaft, 25, to move the carrier, 26, to the position shown in Fig. 8,where it is free from projections, 2, 2", etc., to rotate it to a newindexed position and move it back again to position shown in Fig. 5,where the carrier restssolidly against the front face of 24, with diemember, 2, projecting into another carrier, 4. Means for this purpose isdiagrammatically indicated as including an arm, 41, on shaft, 42, havinga head, 43, loosely engaged between collars, 44 and 45, the latter beingheld against a shoulder, 46, on shaft 25 by means of a nut, 47, screwingon the end of the shaft. The wheel, 50, is diagrammatic,

showing a suitable means which may be the up pressure thereof, while atthe same time minlmum mass and weight are permlsslble for thecarrier,26, this being the only. part that moves in performing theindexing'oporation. It will be understood in this connection thatmassive inertia backing for the female die is highly important, sinceany yield whatever at this point, will subtract from the useful workdone in forming the blank within the die, and the present construction,whereby the inertia element remains stationary during the indexingoperation leaves the designer free to utilize any massiveness that maybe desirable in view of the forces employed.

I claim:

1. The machine for forging nut blanks, including an open-ended,periphery-forming carrier die, cooperating relatively movable diesoperating through the ends of said carrier die for applying pressure toexpand a slug of insufficient diameter but proper volume, into a rigidlateral engagement with the periphery-forming walls of the openendedcarrier die intermediate the ends thereof, and mechanism for moving thelatter while the blank is so held out of engagement with said relativelymovable dies and into another position for operative engagement withother pressure devices successively operating through the ends of saidcarrier die to perform other nut forming operations on the blank.

2. The machine for forging nut blanks, including an open-ended,periphery-forming carrier die, cooperating relatively movable diesoperating through the ends of said carrier die for applying pressure toexpand a slug of insufiicient diameter but proper volume, into rigidlateral engagement with the periphery-forming walls of the open-endedcarrier die intermediate the ends thereof, and mechanism for moving thelatter while the blank is so held out of engagement with said relativelymovable dies and into another position for operative engagement withother pressure devices successively operating through the ends of saidcarrier die to perform other nut forming operations on the blank, thelatter pressure devices including means for axially punching the centralportions of the blank to form a perforation therethrough and means forforcing the blank out of the carrier die.

3. The machine for forging nut blanks, including an open-ended,periphery-forming carrier die, cooperating relatively movable diesoperating through the ends of said carrier die for applying pressure toexpand a slug of insufficient diameter but proper volume. into rigidlateral engagement with the periphery-forming walls approximately midwaybetween the ends of the open-ended carrier die. and mechanism for movingthe latter while the blank is so held intermediate the ends thereof, outof engagement with said relatively movable dies and into an otherposition for operative engagement with other pressure devicessuccessivelyoperating through the ends of said carrier die to performother nut forming operations on the blank, the latter pressure devicesincluding means for application-of end pressure to form centraldepressions and cause lateral flow of the metal, thereby thinning thecenter that is to be punched and thickening the annulus portion that isto form the nut; means for axially punching the central portions of theblank to form a perforation therethrough, and means for forcing theblank out of the carrier die.

4. A nut blank forming machine, including an open-ended, peripheryforming carrier die, a. plurality of pairs of relatively movable, endpressure dies, operating through the endsof said carrier die, and meansfor presenting the carrier die successively in alignment between thecooperating members of each pair of the end pressure dies for endwiseengagement of said end pressure dies with a blank positioned intertheends of said carrier die, and means for presenting the carrier diesuccessively in alignment between the cooperating members of each pairof the end forming dies, said means including a turret mounted on ahorizontal axis parallel with the movement of said end forming dies.

(S. A nut blank forging machine, including a stationary support having aplurality of end pressure dies on one face thereof and a blank carryingturret mounted to rotate on an axis parallel with the direction ofprojection of said stationary end pressure dies and having a pluralityof similarly spaced, openended periphery-forming dies, consisting ofpassages opening through the turret and means for indexing them toregister with said stationary dies successively, in combination with areciprocatory slide member car:

ing a stationary support having a plurality of end pressure dies on oneface thereof and a blank carrying turret mounted to rotate on an axisarallel with the direction of projection 0 said stationary end pressuredies and havin a plurality of similarly spaced, open-en edperiphery-forming dies, consisting of passages o ening through theturret and means for in exing them to register with said stationary diessuccessively,

ing a stationary support having a plurality of end pressure dies on oneface thereof and a blank carrying turret mounted to rotate on an axisparallel with the direction of projection of said stationary endpressure dies and having a plurality of similarly spaced, open-endedperiphery-forming dies, consisting of passages opening through theturret and means for indexing them to register with said stationary diessuccessively, in combination with a reciprocatory slide member carryingcooperating end pressure dies aligned with said stationary dies,operating simultaneously on the several blanks in the periphery-formingdie passages through the ends thereof and successively on each blank,the several pairs of cooperating dies including a primary pair adaptedto expand a blank into secure lateral engagement with the walls withinthe die passages of the turret, another pair adapted to displace themetal to form central depressions, andanother pair adapted to punch thecentral opening.

, 9. A nut blank forging machine, including a massive stationary su porthaving a plurality of suitabl space parallel dies projectinghorizontally from a vertical face thereof; a turret member mounted insaid stationary support and rotating on a horizontal axis parallel withthe direction of said stationary dies, said turret having a plurality ofsimilarly spaced, peripheryforming die passages opening therethroughadapted to register with and fit over said projcctingstationary dies;and means for axially shifting the turret out of and into engagementwith said projecting dies and for rotary indexing while disengaged, incombination with a slide member carrying cooperating end ressure diesali ned with said stationary ies, the aligne dies includin a primarypair adapted to initially expan each blank into secure lateral enagementwith the walls of its periphery forming passage in the turret, i- 10. Anut blank forging machine, including a massive stationary support havina plurality of suitably spaced, parallel ies projecting horizontallyfrom a vertical face thereof; a turret member mounted in said stationarysupport and rotating on a horizontal axis arallel with the direction ofsaid stationary ies, said turret having a plurality approximately midwayof said passage and a subsequently acting pair adapted to form centraldepressions thickening the edge portions of the blank and forcing theentire blank bodily a substantial distance toward the exit end of saidpassage.

11. The method of forging nut blanks, which includes expanding a slug ofinsu'fiicient diameter but of proper volume, into rigid lateralengagement with peripheryforming walls intermediate the end of anopen-ended die by simultaneous pressure of end-forming dies projectingwithin the ends of said open-ended die and while the blank is so held,successively subjecting it to other pressure devices successivelyoperating through the ends of said die to perform other nut formingoperations on the blank including application of end pressure to formcentral depressions and to simultaneously move the blank for wiping thePeriphery.

7/12. The method of forging nut blanks, which includes expanding a slugof insuflicient diameter but of proper volume, into rigid. lateralengagement with peripheryforming walls intermediate the ends of anopen-ended die by'simultaneous pressure of end-forming dies projectingwithin the ends of said open-ended die, and while the blank is so held,successively subjecting it to other pressure devices successivelyoperating through the ends of said die to perform other nut formingoperations on the blank, including application of end pressure to formcentral depressions and to simultaneously move the blank for wiping theperiphery and axially punching to form the perfdration through the nutblank and finally punching the blank out of the carrier die.

13. The method of forging nut blanks,

which includes expanding a slug of insuflicient diameter but of propervolume, into rigid lateral engagement with peripheryforming wallsintermediate the ends of an open-ended die by simultaneous pressure ofend-forming dies projecting within the ends,

of said open-ended die, and while the blank is so held, successivelysubjecting it to other pressure devices successively operating 10through the ends of said die to perform other nut forming operations onthe blank, including application of end pressure to form centraldepressions and cause lateral flow of the metal while simultaneouslymoving the blank to Wipe the periphery, thereby thin- 15 ning thecenter, that is to be punched and thickening the annulus portion that isto form the nut, axially punching to form the perforation through thenut blank and finally punching the blank out of the carrier 20 CHARLESP. TOPPING.

